Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path strong. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all of my heart, sounds simple enough, right? This passage in Proverbs is one many of us are familiar with but do we really trust with all our heart? It’s human nature to want to trust our common sense and rational thinking to deal with everyday situations. When we do that, the results of our decisions and choices don’t always have the results we expect. Our wisdom has limits but we know that God’s wisdom is far greater than anything we can ever imagine — but how do we learn to trust God’s wisdom? It’s a matter of where our focus is. Is it all about us and how we are dealing with our pending job termination? Is it about family troubles that seem to linger for an eternity? Or is it all about God and what he has for us? It’s not easy to take our eyes off our situation and look to God but once we give up control and give it to him, we can expect to see change.

I’ve seen just that in my own life. In recent months the bank I work for announced a merger with a competing bank. It was anticipated for several months but no one knew when upper management would make the formal announcement. When it did take place, I knew in my heart that God was in control and I spent time in the Word and found comfort. Along the way, I allowed my mind to take flight with worry, panic and a variety of other ideas as well as taking an emotional roller coaster ride. I took my eyes off God and tried taking control of my situation. It wasn’t until I heard a sermon by our new pastor at church that I realized I was focusing on my situation and worries and not the promises of God for me and my life as a Christian. I realized that what I was going through wasn’t about me and my situation but it was all about God and what he has for me. I was leaning on my own understanding, my own way of doing things rather that letting God take control. I had to make it right and surrender my situation to God and give him total control, knowing that I should have continued to allow God to have it and do his good work in my life all along instead of me trying to take back control to do it my way.

My work in the corporate world will end in a matter of months but my work for the kingdom of God will never end. I continue to be a work in progress, learning every day to trust in the Lord with all of my heart.

Struggles will always be there but God is there to lead, guide and direct the path that’s to be taken for everyone who believes. Take the time to allow God to minister to your heart and allow him to make your path strong as he promises.

Father God, Help us to always trust in you with all of our hearts so we may be stronger in our faith. Amen.